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How to Love

Review

Reena has finally gotten used to life without Sawyer. It’s been almost three years since he left her and their Florida town behind. Now, there’s someone new in Reena’s life, her daughter Hannah. But Sawyer’s back, only to find that things aren’t as he left them. He must face the emotional carnage he left behind and meet his daughter for the first time. And Reena, whose loved him for as long as she can remember, must decide if she can let him back into her heart.

"There’s one word to describe Cotugno’s debut novel: impressive. This was a love story of the best kind --- messy and painful, realistic and heartfelt but above all, extremely well-written."

There’s one word to describe Cotugno’s debut novel: impressive. This was a love story of the best kind --- messy and painful, realistic and heartfelt but above all, extremely well-written. Cotugno’s characters thoroughly surprised me. I connected with them instantly, and their unique story only made them more endearing. Their interactions and individual relationships contributed to making the story seem authentic and unlike any other love story on the shelves today.

When first picking up HOW TO LOVE, I anticipated something very different than what I got. Not only is this a story about love and family, but friendship is another prevalent theme. Cotugno introduces her readers to an intense friendship between Reena and her best friend, Allie. Sawyer comes between the girls and when Allie passes away, both Sawyer and Reena must deal with the emotional consequences of her death. They both carry a different secret of Allie's --- Sawyer carries his across the country until he ends up back where he started while Reena keeps hers close, but keeps everyone else at a distance. Will Allie’s death and Sawyer’s demons come between them again? Or will the promise of family finally break down the walls Sawyer and Reena have constructed around each other?